Frank Edward Bourne

The Last Defender of Rorke's Drift

At just 23 years old, Frank Edward Bourne helped defend Rorke's Drift against overwhelming odds. More than six decades later, he would die as the last surviving defender of one of the British Army's most famous battles.

Born in Balcombe, Sussex, on 27 April 1855, Bourne enlisted in the British Army in December 1872. His rapid advancement brought him to the rank of Colour Sergeant in April 1878. Known to fellow soldiers as "The Kid," he was serving in B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot when the Anglo-Zulu War brought him to Rorke's Drift.

On 22 January 1879, the British position at Rorke's Drift came under sustained attack by Zulu forces. Through the night and into the following morning, the small garrison defended the mission station and its makeshift barricades. As one of B Company's senior non-commissioned officers, Bourne helped maintain discipline and organise the men during the desperate defence under Lieutenants John Chard and Gonville Bromhead.

His courage and conduct during the battle earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). Contemporary military records also document a Mention in Despatches for his service during the campaign.

Bourne's career extended far beyond Rorke's Drift. He had participated in the frontier operations of 1878 and subsequently received the South Africa Medal 1877–79. He later served with the British expedition in Burma from 1887 to 1889, qualifying for the India General Service Medal 1854–95, with the Burma 1887–89 clasp.

Commissioned into quartermaster service, Bourne continued his military career at the School of Musketry. After retiring in 1907, he returned to Army service during the First World War. His later contribution was recognised with appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Military Division, in the 1919 Birthday Honours.

Bourne lived to see the defence of Rorke's Drift become part of military history. He remained a living connection to the battle long after the other defenders had died, and in 1936 he recounted his experience for a BBC broadcast.

Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Edward Bourne died on 9 May 1945, aged 90. His legacy rests not only on his Distinguished Conduct Medal, but also on a long military career that began in the Victorian Army and continued into the First World War. His service stands as a reminder of the vital role played by experienced non-commissioned officers in some of history's most demanding battles.